Former President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that his new memoir, Promise Me, America, will be released on Nov. 17, just weeks after the midterm elections. The book promises a first-person narrative of his single term in the White House, including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, and his eventual exit from the 2024 presidential race.
In a video posted to X, Biden described the memoir as a reflection on national challenges and his decision-making process. “It’s about getting the country through COVID, rebuilding our economy and restoring democracy after the attack on Jan. 6,” he said. The former president also highlighted his administration’s foreign policy moves, such as ending the war in Afghanistan, strengthening NATO, and supporting Ukraine.
The book’s release comes as Democrats are fighting to regain control of the House and Senate in November. Primary wins by progressive candidates have exposed internal party divisions, even as the caucus focuses on President Trump, affordability, and the 2028 election cycle. The timing of the memoir could inject Biden’s perspective into the midterm debate, potentially rallying his base while reminding voters of his administration’s achievements.
Biden’s decision to step aside in 2024 followed a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June 2024, which triggered calls for generational change. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who later lost to Trump. Harris’s own memoir, 107 Days, has received mixed reviews, adding a layer of intrigue to the former president’s literary return.
This is Biden’s third major book, following Promises to Keep (2007) and Promise Me, Dad (2017), the latter about his late son Beau. While supporters credit his administration with infrastructure, clean energy, and manufacturing investments, critics argue he waited too long to withdraw from the 2024 race.
Biden also shared a health update in the video, revealing he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2025 and has undergone radiation treatment. “I’m dealing with a cancer diagnosis, been getting treatment, and it’s going really well,” he said, thanking supporters for their prayers.
Publisher Little, Brown and Company plans to promote the memoir through interviews and a nationwide book tour, starting three days before Biden’s 84th birthday. The former president framed the book as a testament to his faith in America, urging readers to “strengthen your faith in what we can do as a nation and a people.”
As the midterms approach, Biden’s memoir may serve as both a personal legacy project and a political tool, offering a narrative that Democrats can use to counter Republican attacks. However, it also opens the door to renewed scrutiny of his presidency and his late exit from the 2024 race.
